Hold Your Peace

Recap

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Background

The book of Exodus written c 1445-1406 BC by Moses (Judge, priest, and prophet).

Purpose: To show God’s faithfulness to the covenant and provided Israel with guidelines for holy living.

Summary: The book of Exodus tells the story of God’s people moving from bondage to freedom. Good chooses a man named Moses to lead the Israelites (Hebrews) out of slavery in Egypt and into the wilderness where they can worship God. The God of Israel proves himself to be the only true God. Defeating the false gods of Egypt. At MT. Sinai, God gives His people instructions on how to live as a community of holy people

Our Story picks up after the ten plagues, Pharaoh finally lets the Israelites go. They leave Egypt guided by God with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, God leads them toward the Red Sea, rather than the direct route to Canaan, to avoid conflict with the Philistines.

I am the Lord

Exodus 14:1–4 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.”

Harden Heart (Pharaoh’s Pursuit)

Exodus 14:5–9 “When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.”

Israelites’ Fear and Moses Reassurance

Exodus 14:10–14 “When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.””

The state of being scarce or in short supply: shortage